Minmi ミンミ |
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Birth name | Michiko Evwana |
Born |
Osaka, Japan |
December 8, 1974
Genres | Reggae, hip hop, rap, pop, soca, electropop |
Years active | 1996–present |
Labels |
Victor Entertainment 2002–09 (part of JVC) Far Eastern Tribe Records 2009– (part of Universal Music Group) |
Website | www |
Minmi (stylized as MINMI) (ミンミ?, born December 8, 1974 in Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese hip-hop, soca, and reggae musician, as well as a singer-songwriter and record producer. She is the first soca artist from Japan. Since 2007, she has been married to Wakadanna (若旦那?), a member of Japanese reggae group Shōnan no Kaze.
She began playing reggae music in Japanese clubs in 1996. Her 2002 debut single, "The Perfect Vision", went on to sell over 500,000 copies.
Minmi began playing the piano at the age of five, at which time she began to take interest in soul and jazz music. Minmi began her musical career in 1996, performing at rub-a-dub showcases and hip hop events in the clubs of Osaka. She also began to develop her own sound by making her own original tracks around this period. Minmi signed her first recording deal with JVC Records, releasing the reggae song "The Perfect Vision" as her first single in August 2002. Minmi's first single became extremely popular, and was widely accepted and heavily rotated by as many as 20 FM radio stations. "The Perfect Vision," after gradually increasing in popularity, would eventually sell over 500,000 copies. Her second single, "T.T.T.," differed stylistically, more influenced by hip-hop. The single was a moderate success, peaking in the top 10. These were followed by Minmi's debut album Miracle, which debuted at #2 and has sold more than 600,000 copies. Minmi continued her success in 2004, with her second album Imagine, which was also a high seller.